Bekker's Blog

Blog archive

WPC: SMB-Focused Microsoft Communication Services Launched Globally for Hosters, Resellers

Microsoft announced global availability of Microsoft Communication Services on Tuesday at its Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC).

The program consists of marketing collateral, such as a Ready to Go campaign, aimed at SMB customers who are most interested in having their communications infrastructure hosted by a hosting provider.

The materials emphasize capabilities, such as e-mail, phone, fax and document sharing, versus emphasizing Microsoft products that those smaller customers don't tend to be familiar with. Components of the campaigns are also designed for smaller reseller partners who would act as sales agents for the larger hosters.

Microsoft Communication Services grew out of a pilot program with cable giant Comcast that started in November 2007. Comcast, which won the Microsoft Communications Sector Partner of the Year Award this year, has more than 100,000 e-mail users on Microsoft Hosted Exchange.

At WPC, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Outsourcery Ltd., formerly Genesis Communications Ltd., will use Microsoft Communication Services in the United Kingdom.

If you're looking for more detail on Microsoft Communication Services, we ran a feature previewing the program in our May issue.

Posted by Scott Bekker on July 14, 2009


Featured

  • Windows 365 Cloud Apps Now Available for Public Preview

    Microsoft announced this week that Windows 365 Cloud Apps are now available for public preview. This aims to allow IT administrators to stream individual Windows applications from the cloud, removing the need to assign Cloud PCs to every user.

  • Report: Security Initiatives Can't Keep Pace with Cloud, AI Boom

    The increasingly fast adoption of hybrid, multicloud, and AI systems is easily outgrowing existing security measures, according to a recent global survey by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and exposure management firm Tenable.

  • World Map Image

    Microsoft Taps Nebius in $17B AI Infrastructure Deal To Alleviate Cloud Strain

    Microsoft has signed a five-year, $17.4 billion agreement with Amsterdam-based Nebius Group to expand its AI computing capabilities through third-party GPU infrastructure.

  • Microsoft Brings Copilot AI Into Viva Engage

    Microsoft 365 Copilot in Viva Engage is now generally available, extending Copilot's AI-powered assistant capabilities deeper into the Viva platform.